Faulwell was born circa 2320, one of two children of an archaeologist father and cultural specialist mother. He was diagnosed as a child with an untreatable kidney defect, which kept him bedridden throughout much of his early years. (SCE eBook: Blackout) He also had an allergy to Retnox 5, further complicating any potential treatment. (CoE eBook: Signs from Heaven) Despite this, he was able to develop a talent for linguistics, and accompanied his family on research missions. One one such mission, Faulwell misinterpreted the writing within a temple, leading him to declare it safe. It was in fact "a place of punishment," and his sister was killed by the alien mechanism. His sister's kidneys were transplanted to Faulwell, saving his life. (SCE eBook: Blackout)